Milk paint has been used for several
centuries and has proved to be a very durable paint. Many antiques
have survived to this day with their original milk paint intact.
The rich colors are just as vibrant today.

What is milk paint? Before
commercially prepared paint was available, paint was made at home based
on formulas handed down from generation to generation. Milk paint was
made from old curdled milk or cottage cheese, lime and earth pigment
for color.

How
much will a quart of milk paint cover? 35 to 45 square feet
per quart, 140 to 180 square feet per gallon.

How long will
milk paint last after it is mixed? Milk paint will achieve the
strongest bond when applied fresh, but it will keep in a sealed container
two weeks to a month.

Is milk paint dangerous? Milk
paint is very environmentally friendly, you can throw old paint on your
garden without harm. Caution should be used while painting to prevent
paint from getting in the eyes. Burning may occur because of the lime
content. Also, wear gloves if you have sensitive skin. Always flush and
wash eyes and hands thoroughly with water.

What will milk paint stick
to? Real milk paint is best applied to raw wood or unsealed
walls or wall board. When refinishing antiques, be sure the surface is
very clean, a light sanding would be necessary. Tri Sodium Phosphate
is a good cleaner after a piece of furniture is stripped to remove any
impurities left on the surface. Milk paint does not stick well to new
metal surface, plastics, or oil base paints or finishes.

Can milk paint be
painted over other paints? Milk paint can be painted over fully
cured (30 days) latex paint. The surface must be clean without any wax
or silicone. Clean with Tri Sodium Phosphate then scuff with sand paper.
Always test for compatibility.

Can real milk paint be used
outdoors? Real milk paint is very durable to the weather. For
furniture we recommend painting to your liking and allowing the furniture
to sit under a covered porch for about two weeks before full exposure.
The paint will continue to get tougher as the moisture passes through
the paint. For exterior use, a few weeks without heavy precipitation
is recommended. Top
coating milk paint Any finish can be used to top coat real milk paint.
Oil based finishes such as polyurethane will darken the color. Test to
see result.

Paint Techniques/ How to Crackle Crackling
is as easy as painting once you know the process, but first what is crackling?
Crackling is the process of laying a faster drying finish over a slower
drying more flexible finish. In this case we will be using hide glue. Hide
is made mainly from the hides of horses and live stock, but can also be
made from the skins of rabbits and fish renderings Now the process.
First paint the color of Real Milk Paint you want to show through the cracks.
You may want two coats of this color to be sure it is totally opaque .
Allow paint to dry (1 to 4 hours). Next, pour some liquid hide glue (available
at most hardware stores) into a container, add water to the glue until
you reach a consistency that can be brushed. Tip: the thicker the glue,
the larger the cracks, the thinner, the smaller the cracks. Brush the hide
glue over the dry milk paint. Allow glue to dry (1 to 2 hours). Next paint
the contrasting color of Real Milk Paint over the glue. Allow to dry. As
the milkpaint dries it will shrink and crack to expose the layer underneath.
We do recommend after crackling to top coat the milk paint with a finish.
Tung oil, shellac, varnish, or spray acrylic, almost any clear finish will
work. The reason for doing this is to prevent moisture from attacking the
exposed glue in the cracks and ruining your work. Now here is
where we use a sneaky sales tactic and ask you to buy some Real Milk
Paint. Click here to order now or visit one of the Real Milk Paint distributers
in your area.

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